Tab attachment device

Abstract

A device for attaching a tab with a central opening and bag receiving passage formed therein in which is gathered the neck of a flexible bag comprising: conveyor means to receive and flatten a portion of the bag adjacent the open end thereof and guide the flattened neck of the bag into the bag receiving passage and gather the bag neck in the tab; a tab strip feed mechanism and means severing each tab singly from the tab strip and positioning and bracing the tab to receive the bag neck; means detecting the completed passage of the bag and in response thereto releasing said tab and bag gathered therein prior to positioning another tab to receive a bag neck; means responsive to the reception of a product thickened bag neck in said conveyor means to cause said tab support means to release said tab prior to detection of completed passage of said bag. Also included is means to hold the passage of said tab open for the reception of a bag.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
       1. A device for attaching a tab having a central opening and a bag receiving passage formed therein, about the gathered neck of a flexible bag, said device comprising: conveyor means to flatten a portion of the bag adjacent the open end of the bag, to form a flattened bag neck, and to move the flattened bag along a path; tab support means movably mounted adjacent said path to support a tab such that the conveyor means moves the flattened neck into a bag receiving passage in the tab; tab positioning means movably mounted in said bag path urging said tab into engagement with said tab support means; and anti-jam means operably connected between said tab positioning means and said tab support means for moving said positioning means out of said path responsive to movement of said support means away from said path on its engagement with a neck which is too large to enter the bag receiving passage in the tab along said path . 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tab feed means including a guide track; and means to move a tab along said guide track, to said tab support means, the end of the track being formed to support one edge of a tab on a first side of the path while a second edge of the tab is guided to and held by said support means on a second side of the path. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2, wherein said anti-jam means comprises means resiliently urging said support means toward said path.